Atheist Nexus2015-03-03T23:17:10ZKickingtheCrosshttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/sbhooleyhttp://api.ning.com:80/files/bstvzPeJmrB0f-*QFMZMEEjNyPG2MW9FVVrs7Btd-O-0fw1LrZEkkv1I90vBgzdq9VofmfmR4DNXv6hAccrOgobQGsLJTmuZ/866127033.jpeg?xgip=37%3A0%3A188%3A188%3B%3B&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/hangwithfriends/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=0vtgh12jqah5f&feed=yes&xn_auth=noSeeing Things (TheraminTrees)tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2015-02-23:2182797:Topic:25743082015-02-23T16:33:14.079ZKickingtheCrosshttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/sbhooley
<p>TheraminTrees doesn't release videos very often these days, but when he does, they are positive GEMS. Most recent of his works is the following, wherein he dismantles some of the common rebuttals atheist get from believers when we assert our disbelief.<br/><br/>I could go on, but TT says it so much better, so I'll turn the floor over to him. Enjoy.<br/><br/><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0YQfsyK9ois?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</p>
<p>TheraminTrees doesn't release videos very often these days, but when he does, they are positive GEMS. Most recent of his works is the following, wherein he dismantles some of the common rebuttals atheist get from believers when we assert our disbelief.<br/><br/>I could go on, but TT says it so much better, so I'll turn the floor over to him. Enjoy.<br/><br/><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0YQfsyK9ois?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</p> Let's not define ourselves or others by our worst behaviorstag:www.atheistnexus.org,2015-02-15:2182797:Topic:25715312015-02-15T11:13:33.808ZKickingtheCrosshttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/sbhooley
<p>My take on the recent melt down at Hang With Friends, of which I missed part, is that some of us were tripped up by a habit of thought. It's something we learn growing up, and use without realizing how much pain it can generate - failing to distinguish a person from his or her behaviors.</p>
<p>If I say, "I'm a mean person." or "You're mean." I make the mistake of defining someone by their worst behavior. Mostly I think we don't consciously realize the implications when we say it, but…</p>
<p>My take on the recent melt down at Hang With Friends, of which I missed part, is that some of us were tripped up by a habit of thought. It's something we learn growing up, and use without realizing how much pain it can generate - failing to distinguish a person from his or her behaviors.</p>
<p>If I say, "I'm a mean person." or "You're mean." I make the mistake of defining someone by their worst behavior. Mostly I think we don't consciously realize the implications when we say it, but unconsciously we do realize and it's painful. By clinging tightly to particular mistakes we or someone else made, we throw out all of the not-mistakes, all of the good interactions and happy moments that ought to be cherished. We imply the good things don't count, only mistakes count. It's a way of characterizing that leaves no room for learning from mistakes, because it says the mistake is the only behavior of which this person is capable. It implies they or we are incapable of learning or growing, defective and unworthy of respect as a whole. It means "I'm not OK" or "You're not OK".</p>
<p>This thought habit doesn't just cause bad feelings when it happens online. If we use it here, we're also hurting ourselves and others, unwittingly, in the worlds of family, friends and neighbors. It's very common. I unlearned it as an adult studying <a href="http://www.ericberne.com/" target="_blank">Eric Berne</a> in college.</p>
<p>It would be great if we could examine our reflexive habits of making sense of ourselves and one another, to notice and challenge those that bring so much pain. If we fail to learn from this, it will happen again. As I see it, the video wasn't the real cause of our problem.</p>
<p>The alternative is:</p>
<ul>
<li>Describe the offensive behavior in neutral language</li>
<li>Say how it makes you feel</li>
<li>Describe the alternative behavior you would prefer instead</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p>This incident has taught me how fragile internet groups are, compared to face-to-face friendships. Just as it's easy to click away from a site you don't find immediately interesting (when you'd stay far longer if you were sitting in a room with the people), it's easy to leave an AN group when a disagreement happens. Then you are unavailable and unaware of attempts to heal the rift. Internet groups seem fragile, easily shred. I feel as if I went away for a few days and when I came back half of my family had deserted because they had a dispute.</p> You'll NEVER Guess Who Just Showed Up on Mr. Deity!!!tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2015-02-10:2182797:Topic:25659272015-02-10T03:24:20.875ZKickingtheCrosshttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/sbhooley
<p>I don't believe this one either, but ... well, here it is:<br/><br/><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bUFK0SrbaZs?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<br/><br/>And would you believe - Mr. D made me laugh! RD, that is!</p>
<p>I don't believe this one either, but ... well, here it is:<br/><br/><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bUFK0SrbaZs?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<br/><br/>And would you believe - Mr. D made me laugh! RD, that is!</p> Seth Andrews' New Book, "Sacred Cows" (The Thinking Atheist)tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2015-02-06:2182797:Topic:25644202015-02-06T12:01:27.141ZKickingtheCrosshttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/sbhooley
<p>For the last few podcasts, Seth Andrews has been alluding to a new literary effort he's been working on. Well, the cat is out of the bag ... or perhaps I should say, the cow is out of the barn! Seth's new opus is entitled: <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sacred Cows: a Lighthearted Look at Belief and Tradition around the World</span>. It's scheduled for release in April of 2015, but he's doing a pre-release deal at…</p>
<p>For the last few podcasts, Seth Andrews has been alluding to a new literary effort he's been working on. Well, the cat is out of the bag ... or perhaps I should say, the cow is out of the barn! Seth's new opus is entitled: <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sacred Cows: a Lighthearted Look at Belief and Tradition around the World</span>. It's scheduled for release in April of 2015, but he's doing a pre-release deal at <a href="http://www.sacredcowsbook.com">http://www.sacredcowsbook.com</a>, where he is allowing people to reserve a copy and get it signed by Seth himself! The book will be available in hardback and paperback, with an audio version coming online sometime in the summer.<br/><br/>For those who would like a preview, Seth has published a podcast of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Zq6Rl35tQ" target="_blank">him reading one chapter</a> which deals with - get this! - <strong>JEDI-ISM!</strong> Anyhow, here's the promotional video for <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sacred Cows</span>. Enjoy! And remember - sacred cows make the BEST hamburgers! (no offense meant to vegans!)<br/><br/><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6v-vcPHhwOc?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</p> Seth Andrews' Rebuttal to "10 Women Christian Men Shouldn't Marry" (The Thinking Atheist)tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2015-01-21:2182797:Topic:25351102015-01-21T00:49:29.262ZKickingtheCrosshttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/sbhooley
<p>It seems as though some numb-nuts New York pastor by the name of Stephen Kim has written two marriage advice pieces for christian men and women. Not surprisingly, his suggestions come straight out of his never-fail magic book. Seth Andrews of The Thinking Atheist ran onto the article for women and ... well, he didn't like it much, so much so that he produced the following response to Kim.<br></br><br></br>I reproduce it here, with an especial wave and shout-out to Joan Denoo. Yer gonna LOVE this…</p>
<p>It seems as though some numb-nuts New York pastor by the name of Stephen Kim has written two marriage advice pieces for christian men and women. Not surprisingly, his suggestions come straight out of his never-fail magic book. Seth Andrews of The Thinking Atheist ran onto the article for women and ... well, he didn't like it much, so much so that he produced the following response to Kim.<br/><br/>I reproduce it here, with an especial wave and shout-out to Joan Denoo. Yer gonna LOVE this one, Joanie!!!<br/><br/><br/><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/m1ugVyuRUv0?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</p> Living in the Answerstag:www.atheistnexus.org,2015-01-15:2182797:Topic:25328382015-01-15T20:55:53.394ZKickingtheCrosshttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/sbhooley
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">I am weary of those who declare they understand all the answers to the creation of the universe and Earth. They claim they know the answers to the questions of life, meaning, death, and the afterlife. Those with all the answer speak with confidence, as if they had no doubts at all. They attempt to impose their nonsense on our education, government and even our definition of “family”.</span></p>
<p class="p2"></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">If I knew all the…</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">I am weary of those who declare they understand all the answers to the creation of the universe and Earth. They claim they know the answers to the questions of life, meaning, death, and the afterlife. Those with all the answer speak with confidence, as if they had no doubts at all. They attempt to impose their nonsense on our education, government and even our definition of “family”.</span></p>
<p class="p2"></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">If I knew all the answers to these questions, if I knew how quantum physics works, if I knew what happens after death, I would not be defensive when challenged. I would say, “Laugh all you want,” or “Your words mean nothing to me, no more than hot air!” or “Chant your prayers all you want, there is nothing listening!”</span></p>
<p class="p2"></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1">Their empty words resonate as clanging bells, cacophonous sounds, signifying nothing. ”I feel contempt for the ignorant, archaic, ill-conceived, and illogic that solidifies their brains into childish and dependent thought and actions. </span></p> Twin terrorists caughttag:www.atheistnexus.org,2015-01-11:2182797:Topic:25309982015-01-11T00:57:20.341ZKickingtheCrosshttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/sbhooley
<p><img border="0" class="img" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9v3KQHka2mg/VLGvvedOd1I/AAAAAAAAPnI/dPIZTkIb-lc/s720/l-r-carlos-and-ashton-larmond.jpg"></img></p>
<p></p>
<p>Canada: twin terrorists caught before going to Mideast</p>
<p><br></br> Saturday, January 10, 2015</p>
<p><br></br> By Martin Barillas</p>
<p><br></br> L-R: Carlos and Ashton Larmond<br></br> <br></br> The Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested and charged a pair of 24-year-old identical twin brothers on terrorism-related charges under Canada’s Criminal Code. In a January 9 statement, the RCMP announced that Ashton Carleton Larmond has been charged with facilitating terrorist activity,…</p>
<p><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9v3KQHka2mg/VLGvvedOd1I/AAAAAAAAPnI/dPIZTkIb-lc/s720/l-r-carlos-and-ashton-larmond.jpg" class="img" border="0"/></p>
<p></p>
<p>Canada: twin terrorists caught before going to Mideast</p>
<p><br/> Saturday, January 10, 2015</p>
<p><br/> By Martin Barillas</p>
<p><br/> L-R: Carlos and Ashton Larmond<br/> <br/> The Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested and charged a pair of 24-year-old identical twin brothers on terrorism-related charges under Canada’s Criminal Code. In a January 9 statement, the RCMP announced that Ashton Carleton Larmond has been charged with facilitating terrorist activity, participating in a terrorist group, and giving instructions to carry out terrorist activities. His brother, Carlos Larmond has also been charged with participating in terrorist activity, and for attempting to leave the country in order to participate in foreign terrorism. The latter was arrested at Montreal’s Pierre-Elliot Trudeau International Airport as he attempted to leave Canada, while Ashton Larmond was arrested in Ottawa, Ontario.</p>
<p>Citing the cooperation of various government agencies in making the arrests, RCMP Assistant Commissioner James Malizia said, “Today’s arrests speak to our ability to tackle a threat that is multifaceted and constantly evolving. Through collaborative efforts with our partners, we were able to prevent these individuals from leaving Canada to engage in terrorist activity overseas.”</p>
<p>According to the Ottawa Citizen daily, Ashton Larmond was a member of an amateur hockey team in Minto ON, a town north of Toronto. A teammate said that fellow hockey players had experienced “problems” with him. Ashton told a teammate that he had recently converted to Islam and believed himself to be under surveillance by police. He was eventually dismissed from the team. He once played volleyball at an Ottawa ON high school.</p>
<p>The twin brothers are being held at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre. Ashton has prior criminal record but was not facing charges.</p>
<p>While visiting Paris, Canada’s Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said the arrests of the Larmond brothers are not related to the deadly terrorist attacks in France. He affirmed that they came about as a result of ongoing investigations. “They are not linked in itself by exact link but they are part of this extremist ideology and in that way they are related but not necessarily in the same cell or groups.” Blaney is in Paris to participate in a march in solidarity with the people of France. “We are working at an increased partnership in fighting against terrorists and more specifically foreign fighters,” he said.</p>
<p>The Larmond brothers were arraigned via videolink but will appear before a court on February 12.</p>
<p>Western law enforcement and security agencies are increasingly concerned about citizens who go to the Mideast to fight alongside Muslim terrorist groups and then return to carry out terrorism at home. In the case of the Charlie Hebdo massacre, one of the terrorists who carried out the killings is believed to have visited Yemen with the purpose of receiving military training.</p>
<p>Spero News editor Martin Barillas is a former US diplomat, who also worked as a democracy advocate and election observer in Latin America. He is also a freelance translator.</p> Betty Bowers Best of 2014tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2015-01-01:2182797:Topic:25269912015-01-01T23:54:26.878ZKickingtheCrosshttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/sbhooley
<p>Happy New Year, everyone! Now that we're off on another 365-day stint of sniping at believers, leave it to America's Best Christian, Betty Bowers, to sum up the year past from her holier-than-EVERYBODY point of view!<br/><br/><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ljKsbKnYdN0?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<br/><br/>Have You had YOUR Betty today?!?</p>
<p>Happy New Year, everyone! Now that we're off on another 365-day stint of sniping at believers, leave it to America's Best Christian, Betty Bowers, to sum up the year past from her holier-than-EVERYBODY point of view!<br/><br/><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ljKsbKnYdN0?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<br/><br/>Have You had YOUR Betty today?!?</p> Christmas: Behind the Curtain (The Thinking Atheist)tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2014-12-03:2182797:Topic:25148752014-12-03T14:39:52.645ZKickingtheCrosshttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/sbhooley
<p>Well, it's that time of year again. Time to gird our loins, put on our battle armor and join the (dah-dah DAAAAAH!) <strong>WAR AGAINST CHRISTMAS!!!</strong> [groan!]<br></br> <br></br> Yeah, most of us have heard that crap before, probably too many times, in fact, how atheists are persecuting christians, that Jebus is the reason for the season, <em>ad nauseum</em>. It may come as no great surprise to us as atheists, then, that our good bud, Seth Andrews, has taken his own look at Christmas beyond…</p>
<p>Well, it's that time of year again. Time to gird our loins, put on our battle armor and join the (dah-dah DAAAAAH!) <strong>WAR AGAINST CHRISTMAS!!!</strong> [groan!]<br/> <br/>
Yeah, most of us have heard that crap before, probably too many times, in fact, how atheists are persecuting christians, that Jebus is the reason for the season, <em>ad nauseum</em>. It may come as no great surprise to us as atheists, then, that our good bud, Seth Andrews, has taken his own look at Christmas beyond the tunnel-visioned attitude too many believers have about it and looked "Behind the Curtain." Turns out that what is actually behind said curtain ain't exactly the Wizard of Oz!<br/>
<br/>
In any case, have a look and enjoy ... and have a Merry one, everybody!<br/>
<br/>
<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kenbgMjRvlY?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>
</p> Finding Your Rootstag:www.atheistnexus.org,2014-11-26:2182797:Topic:25116512014-11-26T13:53:35.678ZKickingtheCrosshttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/sbhooley
<p>I've been into genealogy for a long time. It's fun, especially with internet help, but increasingly frustrating. You see, I've hit "brick walls". And being a Smith doesn't make research any easier.</p>
<p>Wouldn't you think I could find the death date and place of my great great grandfather, William Henry Smith? I have his birth and family info., but not his time of death. He's in the 1900 census, but disappears after that! No obits, nothing. Even his tombstone doesn't say. </p>
<p>I've been…</p>
<p>I've been into genealogy for a long time. It's fun, especially with internet help, but increasingly frustrating. You see, I've hit "brick walls". And being a Smith doesn't make research any easier.</p>
<p>Wouldn't you think I could find the death date and place of my great great grandfather, William Henry Smith? I have his birth and family info., but not his time of death. He's in the 1900 census, but disappears after that! No obits, nothing. Even his tombstone doesn't say. </p>
<p>I've been to his hometown, cemetery, libraries (in addition to the internet), but nothing. So I just sent a $25 check to the genealogical center at the Ft. Wayne (IN) library for someone there to do the research. I will be greatly disappointed if they fail.</p>
<p>Have you watched PBS's "Finding Your Roots"? Good show that makes you want to discover your ancestry. I'd like to have my DNA tested. I wonder how expensive that is? But even without genetic evidence, from what I've discovered, my ancesters are all European--French, German, English, primarily. Still, like every other American, I've been told (by my mother) that I have Native American "blood" in me. Invariably, that rumor turns out to be false. And I have no paper evidence verifying I do have Indian ancestry.</p>
<p>My quest continues. It's personal. No one outside the family would care. Even those within aren't that interested. How about you? Anybody out there into genealogy?</p>
<p>Randy</p>